War / Peace

Press Conference From Hell

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"I don't know what the news is from the rest of Iraq or even what's going on with the governor of Najaf," writes Chris Albritton, a freelance journalist who has been covering the fighting in Iraq. "I do know what's happening with the police department, however. They're raiding the Sea of Najaf hotel and rounding the 100 or so journalists at gunpoint and subjecting them to mass arrest." Albritton describes his recent experience, when police "raided the hotel and forced all the journalists out onto the street. We were terrified. The cops yelled at us and pointed their weapons toward us.

No
Main Source: 
Back to Iraq, August 26, 2004
Topics: 
Iraq
Journalism
Human Rights

Bush Campaign Grabs For Iraqi Gold

Submitted by Laura Miller on

George W. Bush's re-election campaign has been accused of appropriating the Olympics for political means. A recent Bush/Cheney advertisement that links Iraq's and Afghanistan's participation in the Olympic games with the White House's "war on terror" is drawing criticism. "To the embarrassment of their media handlers in Athens, members of the Iraqi football team have reacted furiously to the news that their efforts are being used to aid Mr Bush's efforts to win a second term in the White House," The Guardian reports.

No
Main Source: 
The Guardian (UK), August 23, 2004
Topics: 
Iraq
Arts / Culture
U.S. Government

Political Football

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Iraqi soccer players at the Olympic games in Greece are angered at the Bush campaign for using the Iraqi Olympic team in Bush's latest re-election campaign advertisements. "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," said Iraqi midfielder Salih Sadir. Another player, Ahmed Manajid, had even stronger words: "How will he meet his god having slaughtered so many men and women?" Manajid said. "He has committed so many crimes." Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl interviewed the players.

No
Main Source: 
Sports Illustrated, August 19, 2004
Topics: 
Iraq
Politics

Another Media Mea Culpa

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

An internal Washington Post review found that, before the invasion of Iraq, "Administration assertions were on the front page. Things that challenged the administration were on A18 on Sunday or A24 on Monday. There was an attitude among editors: Look, we're going to war, why do we even worry about all this contrary stuff?" - in the words of the paper's Pentagon correspondent.

No
Main Source: 
Washington Post, August 12, 2004
Topics: 
Iraq
Journalism
Ethics

Playing Good Flack, Bad Flack

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"On the eve of the Democratic National Convention ... well-dressed politicians, corporate executives and their friends watched [fireworks] from a private party at a waterfront restaurant. ... Rick Rendon [was] the man in charge of the party," writes Pratap Chatterjee.

No
Main Source: 
CorpWatch, August 4, 2004
Topics: 
Politics
Public Relations
U.S. Government
War / Peace

Al Qaeda at the DNC

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Journalism professor Jay Rosen, who attended the Democratic national convention, says the "great overlooked story in all the reporting" was the heightened security situation. "It was in your face, nonstop, in thousands of ways inside what was called, in military terms, The Perimeter," Rosen writes. "It came lunging at you as you approached the site and enveloped all when you were on site. You could have your credentials checked twenty times on a single trip from the ground floor to your seats. ...

No
Main Source: 
PressThink, July 30, 2004
Topics: 
Terrorism
Politics

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